Will Packer is a Hollywood gamechanger who is known for producing romantic comedies such as Think Like a Man and his newest box office hit Night School but now the powerhouse producer has forayed into reality television with the OWN dating reality show Ready to Love.
While we typically think of reality dating shows as a melodrama, ratchet soap opera that usually shows multiple women all vying for the attention of one man (thanks to the Flavor of Loves and For the Love of Ray Js,) Ready to Love puts a more refreshing spin on reality dating shows. Both women and men have power in choosing who stays and who goes. Hosted by comedian Nephew Tommy, Ready to Love is set in Atlanta and features 20 of the city's most eligible black men and women in their 30's and 40's all coming together in the name of love. The show doesn't discriminate as its cast is made up of an array of people from an international DJ to a pastor and they all have the chance to discover dating while also discovering themselves.
The cast of 'Ready To Love' alongside host Nephew Tommy and producer Will PackerFreddyO
In one word, cast member Angel summed up her experience with the word "maturity" saying, "the reason being is you never know how you're going to react to certain situations and things until you're in that moment and when you react in a way that's totally different than what you've done a long time ago means you matured, which makes me ready to love."
xoNecole's EIC Necole Kane was also in the buildingFreddyO
Men also get the chance to grow and learn more about themselves from participating on the show. "I think as men and women, we blame other people for why [we're] single and I found out I'm single because of me and I think that people that take accountability, they're gonna find true love," says cast member Michael.
As viewers get insight on what it's really like dating, the cast will receive insight from Nephew Tommy who not only brings the funny but keeps it real by openly giving relationship advice. Both he and Will Packer brought their beautiful wives as their dates to the premiere on Tuesday while they joined the cast to watch the show in real time.
Will and Nephew Tommy with their beautiful wivesFreddyO
Will also took time to shed light on finding love. "I've learned that love is very much specific to your perception," Will explains. "So you had people who came onto this show who were open-minded. They weren't closed-minded, they didn't come in with the idea that 'oh woe is me' and 'I'm not gonna be able to find love, there's no good men, no good women.' They came in because of the way we set up the show saying, 'I'm open to finding that one.' 'My heart is open,' 'my mind is open' 'my eyes are open,' and 'I'm going to be ready for what comes.' It's interesting because we can do that in our daily lives. You don't have to be on a dating show to make yourself open and available and a lot of times, we go into dating with the wrong mentality."
Make sure to catch Ready to Love, Saturdays at 10PM on OWN. The second part of the series' two-night premiere airs tonight at 10 PM, only on OWN.
RELATED
“Your circle is everything,” Reginae shares with a smile, and she’s not wrong. She’s all about creating spaces where we can come together, let our hair down, and vibe with like-minded women. “We deserve spaces to meet, uplift, and vibe with each other. BLK is making that happen,” she adds.
A New Era for Friendships—Social Mode Is Here!
Gen Z is all about building meaningful connections, whether it’s with a date or a new brunch buddy. That’s why Social Mode is such a big deal. Research shows that 65% of Gen Z values friendships just as much as romantic relationships. With BLK’s new feature, users can easily toggle between “Dating” and “Social,” opening up a world of platonic connections—no swiping right required.
Bahja Rodriguez, Reginae Carter, Breaunna Womack, Lourdes Rodriguez and Zonnique Pullins attend OMG Girlz "Make A Scene" Single Release & Video Viewing Party at Trap City Cafe on March 27, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia
Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage
Reginae Carter Hosts the Ultimate Girls’ Night In—Powered by BLK Social Mode
What better way to show Social Mode in action than with an exclusive Girls’ Night In, hosted by Reginae? The event brought together top influencers, tastemakers, and press for a night of luxury, self-care, and real talk about love, sex, and relationships. From tarot readings to perfume-making and signature cocktails, the evening embodied the “soft life” vibe that many Black women are embracing in 2025—peaceful, intentional, and full of joy.
Guests mingled, laughed, and bonded over the importance of finding a tribe that supports you. It wasn’t just about fun (although there was plenty of that!)—it was about creating a circle of inspiring, strong women. “We need to stick together. We need to be each other’s village,” Reginae says, emphasizing the power of community over competition.
Sisterhood: The Real MVP
For Reginae, it’s all about friendship—and not just the surface-level kind. “We need friends who keep it real with us. The ones who can tell us when we’re right, when we’re wrong, and when we need to calm down,” she says. As someone who navigates the spotlight, she’s got the best of both worlds: friends who understand the grind and those who can give her an honest, grounded perspective.
Her advice for building strong, intentional friendships? “Be confident in yourself and know your worth,” she explains. “Also, hurt people hurt people, so make sure you’re coming from a good place when you’re building relationships. It’s not always about being nice—sometimes it’s about being real.”
Reginae couldn’t have summed it up better: “When you have the right circle, the right tribe, everything just feels easier. And that’s exactly what BLK is giving us—space to connect, laugh, and grow with each other.”
To learn more about BLK’s Social Mode, download or update the BLK app in the App Store or Google Play Store today. Who knows? You might just find your new bestie or your next brunch crew.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by Prince Williams/WireImage